Bristol Vintage Market Launches May 20-21 at Mount Hope Farm

With food, live music, and vendors galore, planners have sights set on growing event into an annual festival destination

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With retro treasures, food trucks, live music, and more, the inaugural Bristol Vintage Market at Mount Hope Farm seeks to bring a new multi-day festival to the Ocean State. Katie Blais, community events manager at Mount Hope Farm (MHF) and Jenna Kinghorn, owner of Riverside-based Blanc & Bleu, were inspired by vendor events such as The Profound Market, Vintage Bazaar New England, and the renowned Brimfield Antique Flea Market, to bring a similar experience to their own backyard. “There is really nothing like it here in the state except the Providence Flea, but we wanted to create a weekend filled with a mix of vintage, artisans, food, and entertainment in a beautiful outdoor setting,” Kinghorn begins. “Plus, people can visit downtown Bristol for more shopping, great restaurants, and enjoy the beautiful water views.”

Blais and Kinghorn connected at MHF’s weekly farmers markets where Kinghorn launched her business selling upcycled furniture and goods sourced from visits to brocantes (open air marketplaces) in France. “Blanc & Bleu started as a partnership with my friend Rebekah Willenberg,” says Kinghorn. “We both had vintage booths in the area and decided to collaborate for a market at Mount Hope Farm. We practically sold out that day. So we did another one, and another one.” Kinghorn approached Blais with the idea to create a large-scale show. Both expressed a love of antiques and an appreciation for the pastoral location as a space to connect artisans.

The historic farm sits on 127 acres of pastures centrally located in Bristol, and the farm has its own lengthy history as a public space, including hosting weekly farmers markets for over a decade. “The farm is a non-profit organization with a mission to steward its land, landscape, and structures for long-term sustainability, while cultivating an appreciation of our agrarian, Native American, and colonial history,” Blais explains.

Blais recalls yardsale-ing with her grandparents as a child and developing an appreciation for “everything old,” which led to working at an antiques store in her hometown after college. When she accepted a full-time position at MHF last fall, Blais and Kinghorn got to work brainstorming. Though the farm has hosted smaller-scale artisan fairs in the past, this will be the first dedicated vintage market of this size.

“Vintage market attendees can even get a piece of the farm’s history,” says Blais, referencing a booth devoted to offering items harvested from the farm for sale. Kinghorn shares, “I will have a curated collection of vintage finds, handmade goods, furniture makeovers, and of course, French lifestyle essentials including my signature French market baskets.”

Held May 20-21, day and weekend passes are available with the opportunity to stay at  the farm’s historic inn and make it a weekend getaway or staycation. According to Blais, there will be a mix of vintage vendors, repurposed home decor, apparel including Coastal Brahmin from Cape Cod,  jewelry artists, and floral vendors, along with food provided by nearby restaurants such as Hunky Dory, Borealis Coffee, the Gnarly Vines Farm food truck, and Two Gals cocktails, plus live music by Adelaide Punkin, Ocean State Ramblers, and Lady Anemoia. Blais adds, “Whether you love vintage, housewares, or history, this will be a fun event! We are hopeful this is the first of many Bristol Vintage Markets to take place!” For more information visit MountHopeFarm.org/BristolVintageMarket

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